MIAMI -- Newcomers Colin Rea and Andrew Cashner have joined the Marlins' rotation at a time one of the anchors of the staff is building back up from injury.
Wei-Yin Chen, on the disabled list since July 25 with a left elbow sprain, has begun strengthening exercises. There still hasn't been a date set for when the 31-year-old will begin throwing.
"I haven't heard that yet, but I'm sure he's going to start throwing [soon]," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "If he sits too long without throwing, that's going to make the process longer. I'm thinking in the near future he's going to start throwing."
The club is confident that Chen will miss about a month, and that pitching in September is realistic. He recently had a cortisone shot to his elbow to relieve discomfort and inflammation.
The left-hander, who is 5-4 with a 4.99 ERA, has thrown 110 innings, striking out 89.
Even before Chen's injury, the Marlins were searching for starting pitching depth. They acquired a pair of right-handers from the Padres on Friday in Rea and Cashner. Rea made his Miami debut on Saturday against the Cardinals, and Cashner is scheduled to start Sunday.
To make room in the rotation, the Marlins on Saturday optioned José Ureña -- who took an 11-6 loss to St. Louis on Friday night -- to Triple-A New Orleans. Miami also recalled right-handed reliever Brian Ellington to provide more bullpen depth.
If Chen is available in the final month, Miami will be getting back an experienced lefty for the stretch run.
"He's doing strengthening exercises, things like that," Mattingly said. "He seems to be OK. He won't be on the trip with us [next week], but he is in the process of starting to do some things now."